Species Of Rhus Research Articles

Three complete chloroplast genomes from two north American Rhus species and phylogenomics of Anacardiaceae

BackgroundThe suamc genus Rhus (sensu stricto) includes two subgenera, Lobadium (ca. 25 spp.) and Rhus (ca. 10 spp.). Their members, R. glabra and R. typhina (Rosanae: Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), are two economic important species. Chloroplast genome information is of great significance for the study of plant phylogeny and taxonomy.ResultsThe three complete chloroplast genomes from two Rhus glabra and one R. typhina accessions were obtained with a total of each about 159k bp in length including a large single-copy region (LSC, about 88k bp), a small single-copy regions (SSC, about 19k bp) and a pair of inverted repeats regions (IRa/IRb, about 26k bp), to form a canonical quadripartite structure. Each genome contained 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes and two pseudogenes. The overall GC content of the three genomes all were same (37.8%), and RSCU values showed that they all had the same codon prefers, i.e., to use codon ended with A/U (93%) except termination codon. Three variable hotspots, i.e., ycf4-cemA, ndhF-rpl32-trnL and ccsA-ndhD, and a total of 152–156 simple sequence repeats (SSR) were identified. The nonsynonymous (Ka)/synonymous (Ks) ratio was calculated, and cemA and ycf2 genes are important indicators of gene evolution. The phylogenetic analyses of the family Anacardiaceae showed that the eight genera were grouped into three clusters, and supported the monophyly of the subfamilies and all the genera. The accessions of five Rhus species formed four clusters, while, one individual of R. typhina grouped with the R. glabra accessions instead of clustering into the two other individuals of R. typhina in the subgenus Rhus, which showed a paraphyletic relationship.ConclusionsComparing the complete chloroplast genomes of the Rhus species, it was found that most SSRs were A/T rich and located in the intergenic spacer, and the nucleotide divergence exhibited higher levels in the non-coding region than in the coding region. The Ka/Ks ratio of cemA gene was > 1 for species collected in America, while it was < 1 for other species in China, which dedicated that the Rhus species from North America and East Asia have different evolutionary pressure. The phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genome clarified the Rhus placement and relationship. The results obtained in this study are expected to provide valuable genetic resources to perform species identification, molecular breeding, and intraspecific diversity of the Rhus species.

Novel anti‑hepatitis B virus flavonoids sakuranetin and velutin from Rhusretinorrhoea.

Drug‑resistance in hepatitis B virus (HBV), especially due to prolonged treatment with nucleoside analogs, such as lamivudine (LAM), remains a clinical challenge. Alternatively, several plant products and isolated phytochemicals have been used as promising anti‑HBV therapeutics with no sign of resistance. Among all known Rhus species, R.coriaria, R.succedanea and R.tripartite have been widely studied for their anti‑HBV efficacy, however, the effects of R.retinorrhoea have not been previously investigated. The current study reported the isolation of two flavonoids, namely sakuranetin (SEK) and velutin (VEL), from the dichloromethane fraction of R.retinorrhoea aerial parts using chromatography and spectral analyses. The two flavonoids (6.25‑50µg/ml) were pre‑tested for non‑hepatocytotoxicity using an MTT assay and their dose‑ and time‑dependent inhibitory activities against HBV [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg)] in cultured HepG2.2.15 cells were assessed by ELISA. SEK and VEL at the selected doses (12.5µg/ml) significantly inhibited HBsAg by ~58.8 and ~56.4%, respectively, and HBeAg by ~55.5 and ~52.4%, respectively, on day5. The reference drugs LAM and quercetin (anti‑HBV flavonoids), suppressed the production of HBsAg/HBeAg by ~86.4/~64 and ~84.5/~62%, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking of the flavonoids with HBV polymerase and capsid proteins revealed the formation of stable complexes with good docking energies, thus supporting their structure‑based antiviral mechanism. In conclusion, the present study was the first to demonstrate the anti‑HBV therapeutic activities of SEK and VEL isolated from R.retinorrhoea.

Variation among the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of the Sumac Species Rhus&nbsp;chinensis: Reannotation and Comparative Analysis.

The sumac Rhus chinensis Mill. is an economically and ecologically important shrub or tree species in the family of Anacardiaceae with a wide distribution in East to Southeast Asia. We assembled the complete chloroplast genome of 159,187 bp in length and the GC content of 37.8%. The genome encoded 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene, and 77 SSRs were identified as well as the interval regions, totaling 46,425 bp in length. The mauve alignment revealed one gene rearrangement among the Rhus species. All the SSRs were divided into five types, most of which consisted of mono- and tri- repeat motifs. Our genome exhibited the longest size and more annotated genes compared to the three other genomes of R. chinensis reported in GenBank. We also discovered some relatively highly variable regions in the complete chloroplast genomes of the Rhus species. The ML phylogenetic analysis of the available chloroplast sequences of the Anacardiaceae well supported the monophyly of each tribe and each genus; the tribe Rhoideae was close to the tribe Anacardiaceae with a high support of 100%, and they then grouped with the tribe Spondiadeae. R. chinensis was sister to R. potaninii, and they then grouped with the species R. typhina.

The Investigation of Antimicrobial Activities and Hypoglycemic Effect of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) Syrups in Different Region

This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity and antidiabetic effect of sumac sours collected from different regions. Rhus coriaria, is the only species of rhus in Turkey. It shows spread in different regions in Turkey. Particularly, it is used as sour in Anatolia. Sumac sour is usually consumed in south provinces in Turkey. In the study, three Gram (-), three Gram (+) and 1 yeast strains obtained from the culture collection of the Microbiology Laboratory of Ordu University were used. The antimicrobial effects of samples were investigated by using agar disc diffusion method. Antidiabetic effect was investigated with a-amylase and a-glucosidaseinhibition assays. In result of the study, almost all samples formed zones ranging from 31.5 to 6 mm against bacteria and yeast, but Antep, Hatay sumac syrup samples did not create againstCandida albicansand Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, respectively.Consequently, sumac syrups were determined to be an effective antimicrobial activity.In addition, we can say that there are antidiabetic effects of sumac syrup samples in Mersin, Hatay and Antep, respectively.

Drying Effects on Phenolics and Free Radical-Scavenging Capacity of Rhus pachyrrhachis and Rhus virens Used in Traditional Medicine.

Rhus pachyrrhachis and Rhus virens are medicinal plant species with important uses in northeastern Mexico. They belong to a complex of Rhus species called “lantriscos”, which are used for medicinal applications. The medicinal effects of these species are based on traditional use, however, they require phytochemical research to validate their medicinal properties, as well as structural characterization for their correct identification during the collecting practice and uses. The phytochemical potential of aqueous extracts from R. pachyrrhachis and R. virens was analyzed by the quantification of total phenolic content (TPC), free radical-scavenging potential, and total flavonoids, with a comparison of four drying methods, and some phenolic compounds were identified. Furthermore, the stems and leaves of both species were anatomically characterized to establish a differentiation. R. pachyrrhachis and R. virens showed similar values of phytochemical contents, although the TPC content (0.17 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight, GAE/g DW) was higher in R. virens. The drying method used affected the metabolite contents, and this behavior was related to the species. Regarding the phenolic compounds, shikimic acid, galloylquinic acid, and gallic acid were identified in both species, however, quinic acid was only found in Rhus pachyrrhachis, while vanillic acid O-hexoside was identified only in Rhus virens. At the anatomical level, the pubescence associated with trichomes on the leaves of Rhus pachyrrhachis was highlighted as the main differential characteristic.

Variability of antioxidant and biological activities of Rhus tripartitum related to phenolic compounds.

Rhus species are known in traditional medicine for their therapeutic virtue and their extracts showed numerous important properties including antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiviral, and hypoglycemic and anticonvulsant activities. Rhus tripartitum (Ucria) is a medicinal plant widely used in Tunisia folk medicine against chronic diarrhea and gastric ulcer. This study was designed to examine in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of four extracts of Rhus tripartitum root cortex with increasing solvent polarity (hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water). HPLC was used to identify and quantify phenolic compounds in Rhus extract. Water extract showed the highest antioxidant activity using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC method) with 8.95 ± 0.47 µmol Trolox/mg and a cell based-assay with 0.28 ± 0.12 µmol Trolox/mg as compared to the other fractions. Moreover, methanol extract displayed the strongest anti-cancer activity against human lung carcinoma (A-549) and colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (DLD-1) with an IC50 value of 60.69 ± 2.58 and 39.83 ± 4.56 µg/ml (resazurin test) and 44.52 ± 5.96 and 55.65 ± 6.00 µg/ml (hoechst test), respectively. Besides, the highest anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) release, was exhibited by dichloromethane extract with 31.5 % at 160 µg/ml in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The HPLC analysis showed that catechol and kaempferol were the major phenolics. These data suggest the richness of all fractions of Ucria root on interesting bioactive molecules with different polarity and confirm the known traditional therapeutics virtues of this species for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea and gastric ulcer.

Inter-species comparative antioxidant assay and HPTLC analysis of sakuranetin in the chloroform and ethanol extracts of aerial parts of Rhus retinorrhoea and Rhus tripartita

Context: Extensive research on Rhus (Anacardiaceae) shows their antioxidant potential, which warrants further evaluation of its other species. Objective: To perform a comparative antioxidant assay on extracts of R. retinorrhoea and R. tripartita, including sakuranetin quantification by a validated HPTLC method. Materials and methods: In vitro antioxidant assay was performed on chloroform and ethanol extracts of R. retinorrhoea Steud. ex Oliv. (RRCE and RREE) and R. tripartita (Ucria) Grande (RTCE and RTEE) by DPPH radical scavenging (at 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 μg/mL concentrations) and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching methods at 500 μg/mL concentration. Densitometric HPTLC method was developed and validated using toluene: ethyl acetate: methanol (8:2:0.2; v/v/v) as mobile phase, executed on glass-backed silica gel F254 plate and scanned at 292 nm. Results: Antioxidant activity of Rhus extracts tested by the two methods (DPPH/BCB) was found in order of RTEE > RREE > RTCE > RRCE with IC50 118.67/256.26, 315.75/82.35, 827.92/380.0 and 443.69/292.75, respectively. Scanning of the HPTLC plate provided an intense peak of sakuranetin at Rf = 0.59. The estimated sakuranetin content in the dry weight of the extracts was highest in RREE (27.95 μg/mg) followed by RRCE (25.22 μg/mg), RTEE (0.487 μg/mg) and RTCE (0.0 μg/mg). Presence of sakuranetin in RREE, RRCE and RTEE supported the highest antioxidant property of the two Rhus species. Nonetheless, low sakuratenin in R. tripartita indicated the presence of other bioactive constituents responsible for synergistic antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The developed HPTLC method therefore guarantees its application in quality control of commercialized herbal drugs and formulations containing sakuranetin.

Antifungal activity in vitro of Rhus muelleri against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici is the pathogen that causes one of the most destructive diseases of tomato. The use of plant extracts to control this disease is an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Rhus muelleri Stand et F. A. Barkley is a plant distributed throughout Sierra Madre Oriental and the Mexican Plateau. To date there is no information in scientific literature about the chemical composition and the biological activity of this species. The objective of this research was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of R. muelleri extract against F. oxysporum and to obtain information of the extract chemical composition. The extract concentrations evaluated varied from 100 to 6000ppm. The leaf extract yield was 37.43%. The R. muelleri extract inhibited F. oxysporum at MIC50 of 3363ppm and at MIC90 of 11,793ppm, representing an alternative to be used as a botanical fungicide. Eight bioactive compounds were identified on R. muelleri leaves by GC–MS analysis. The total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity in leaves and ethanol extract were higher than those reported in other Rhus species. This is the first scientific report on R. muelleri antifungal activity.

Historical biogeography of Eastern Asian–Eastern North American disjunct Melaphidina aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) on Rhus hosts (Anacardiaceae)

Intercontinental biotic disjunctions have been documented and analyzed in numerous Holarctic taxa. Patterns previously synthesized for animals compared to plants suggest that the timing of animal disjunctions are mostly Early Tertiary and were generated by migration and vicariance events occurring in the North Atlantic, while plant disjunctions are mostly Mid-Late Tertiary and imply migration and vicariance over Beringia. Melaphidina aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Fordini) exhibit host-alternating life cycles comprising an obligate seasonal shift between Rhus subgenus Rhus species (Anacardiaceae) and mosses (Bryophyta). Similar to their Rhus hosts, melaphidines are distributed disjunctly between Eastern Asia and Eastern North America. We examined evolutionary relationships within Melaphidina to determine the position of the North American lineage, date its divergence from Asian relatives, and compare these results to a previous historical biogeographic study of Rhus. We sampled nine species and three subspecies representing all six genera of Melaphidina. Data included sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II+leucine tRNA, cytochrome b, and nuclear elongation factor 1α genes. Phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian, maximum-likelihood, parsimony) of the combined data (3282bp) supported the monophyly of all genera except Nurudea and Schlechtendalia, due to the position of N. ibofushi. While the exact position of the North American Melaphis was not well resolved, there was high support for a derived position within Asian taxa. The divergence of Melaphis from Asian relatives centered on the Eocene–Oligocene boundary (∼33–35Ma), which coincides with closure of Beringian Land Bridge I. This also corresponded to the Asian–North American disjunction previously estimated for subgenus Rhus spp. We suggest the late-Eocene Bering Land Bridge as the most likely migration route for Melaphis ancestors, as was also hypothesized for North American Rhus ancestors. Results for the Melaphidina disjunction depart from the modal pattern in animal lineages, and present a case where insect and host-plant taxa apparently responded similarly to Tertiary climate change.

Leaf architecture of Rhus s.str. (Anacardiaceae)

AbstractA comprehensive leaf architecture study of 31 species of Rhus s.str. was conducted to describe and identify characters of potential value for assessing infrageneric relationships. The first detailed leaf descriptions for Rhus subgenera are provided and show that cleared leaves revealed craspedodromous, eucamptodromous, and cladodromous venation types in the species studied. There was a diversity of terminal idioblasts associated with free simple or branched veinlets, and a unique combination of leaf organization, venation type, terminal idioblasts, and crystals allowed identification of subgenera and sections. Within the genus, species with toothed deciduous compound leaves exhibit a tendency to mostly craspedodromous venation with weakly sclerified tertiary veins and poorly developed terminal idioblasts; species with simple or compound evergreen leaves show mostly eucamptodromous and cladodromous venation with sclerified bundle sheath cells towards fifth‐order veins and well‐developed terminal idioblasts. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Phylogenetic Split of Malagasy and African Taxa of &lt;I&gt;Protorhus&lt;/I&gt; and &lt;I&gt;Rhus&lt;/I&gt; (Anacardiaceae) Based on cpDNA &lt;I&gt;trnL–trnF&lt;/I&gt; and nrDNA ETS and ITS Sequence Data

Abstract The African-Malagasy genus Protorhus and the African-Malagasy species of Rhus s.l. have been suggested to be polyphyletic, but definitive evidence has been lacking. We investigated a clade of Anacardiaceae subfamily Anacardioideae in order to clarify evolutionary relationships of the African-Malagasy members of these two genera. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data from cpDNA trnL–trnF, and nrDNA ETS and ITS provide strong statistical support for the 1) polyphyly of Protorhus; 2) monophyly of Malagasy Protorhus species; 3) polyphyly of Rhus section Baronia (Malagasy Rhus). These results support the need for new circumscriptions of these groups. Two new combinations are proposed, Searsia erosa and Searsia pendulina.

Wood Anatomy of Anacardiaceae from India with Special Reference to Systematic Position of Rhus

The present publication provides a comprehensive wood anatomical survey of woods of Indian tree species of the family Anacardiaceae. Thirtyfive species belonging to 19 genera are described as per the feature list of IAWA. Intrusive fibre cavities and perforated ray cells have been reported in Holigarna arnottiana and Pistacia terebinthus respectively. Two species, Choerospondias axillaris and Rhus hookeri, lacked helical thickening despite being ring-porous. Most tribes of the Anacardiaceae appear to be heterogeneous wood anatomically, except Semecarpeae which are homogeneous. The tribes Mangiferae and Semecarpeae are quite similar and may be placed together. Interesting findings were made regarding Indian species of Rhus, which can be divided into two groups. It is suggested to recognise Rhus Group II as a separate section. The ecological trends suggest that anatomical differentiation exists between tropical and temperate species as well as deciduous and evergreen species.

Assessment of genetic relationships between Rhus L. species using RAPD markers

Genetic diversity of seven Rhus L. species was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) markers. Initially, 90 primers were screened, of which 25 produced reproducible amplification products. These primers generated a total of 296 bands, with an average of 11.8 bands per primer. Out of 296 bands scored, 236 (80%) were polymorphic and 62 (20%) were monomorphic. Primers OPC-05 and OPD-05 generated 100% polymorphic bands. The resolving power of primers ranged from 9.4 to 26.8. Similarity matrix values ranged from 0.45 to 0.63. The dendrogram generated using Unweighted Pair Group Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) grouped all the species of Rhus in one major group with two sister groups, whilst R. pyroides Burch. and R. dentata Thunb. were outliers. R. gerrardii (Harv. ex Engl.) Diels, R. glauca Thunb. and R. pentheri Zahlbr. constituted one sister group, while R. natalensis Bernh. ex C. Krauss and R. gueinzii Sond. were included in the other. The degree of genetic diversity observed between seven species of Rhus with RAPD markers suggest that this approach could be used for studying the phylogeny of the genus.

Importance of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (lacquer tree) in prehistoric periods in Japan, deduced from identification of its fossil woods

In Japan, lacquered artifacts and remains of lacquer processing became common items in the early Jomon period beginning at ca. 6300 b.p. (ca. 5300 cal b.c.). However, there was no archaeobotanical evidence that Rhus verniciflua (lacquer tree), which is thought to be a prehistoric introduction from China on botanical grounds, grew in Japan until its distinction in wood structure from those of native Rhus species was clarified in 2004. Based on this new refinement in identification, 573 Rhus fossil woods so far reported from various archaeological sites in Japan were re-identified. The results showed that R. verniciflua commonly grew in middle to northern Honshu since the early Jomon period and that it may have been introduced from China with other cultivated plants before that time. During the Jomon period, R. verniciflua trees were used not just for lacquer collection, but also for building in the lowland which exploited their durability in waterlogged conditions.

Anatomía foliar y del pecíolo de especies del género Rhus s. str. (Anacardiaceae)

Se describe la anatomía foliar y del pecíolo de 33 especies de Rhus s. str. con el objetivo de evaluar los atributos anatómicos que apoyen su clasificación infragenérica. Los resultados apoyan la clasificación infragenérica existente de Rhus s. str. El subgénero Rhus, con sistema vascular tipo I y pecíolo con más de diez capas de colénquima y médula amplia, se distingue del subgénero Lobadium. La sección Terebinthifolia se caracteriza por tener dos o cuatro elementos de vaso, vaina colenquimatos a rodeando los haces vasculares y fibras gelatinosas; mientras que la sección Styphonia presenta una cutícula gruesa (&gt; 6 µm), células epidérmicas papilosas, dos capas de parénquima en empalizada y esclerénquima en xilema y floema. La presencia de esclerénquima en la sección Styphonia se correlaciona con la persistencia de las hojas. Seguramente algunos de los atributos foliares mencionados se originaron durante los procesos de radiación del género Rhus s. str. que tuvieron lugar en México.

Biflavones from Rhus species with affinity for the GABA A/benzodiazepine receptor

In South Africa Rhus pyroides is traditionally used in the treatment of epilepsy. In the present study two biflavonoids with activity in the 3H-Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil) binding assay were isolated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation of the ethanol extract of the leaves from Rhus pyroides. The structures of the two biflavonoids were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to be agathisflavone and amentoflavone. Agathisflavone and amentoflavone competitively inhibited the binding of 3H-Ro 15-1788 with a K i of 28 and 37 nM, respectively. Extracts of Rhus dentata and Rhus pentheri were not as active as the extract from Rhus pyroides; both were found to contain apigenin and agathisflavone. The monomer apigenin, agathisflavone and amentoflavone were fitted into a pharmacophore model for ligands binding to the GABA A receptor benzodiazepine site. This reflected the affinities of the compounds in the [ 3H]-flumazenil binding assay.

Tracing the geographical origin of Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae): an African wasp feeding on a South American plant in North America.

Determining the geographical origin of an introduced organism can be critical to understanding or managing a non-native species, but is often difficult when the organism is small or inconspicuous. We used a phylogeographical approach to identify the region of endemism and determine the geographical origin of world populations of the seed-feeding wasp Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hussey). This wasp feeds on African Rhus species and South American Schinus species in various locations around the world. Because it is present both in Africa and in South America, it is unclear whether the wasp was originally an African Rhus-feeder that has begun feeding on Schinus or a South American Schinus-feeder that has started feeding on Rhus. Phylogenetic analysis of 800 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequence data found extensive variation and phylogeographical structure within African M. transvaalensis. Specimens from other locations around the world were all identical in COI sequence and were phylogenetically nested within the African samples. We conclude that M. transvaalensis was originally an African Rhus-feeder that readily attacks Schinus. We evaluate potential pathways of introduction of this wasp to the New World, and we discuss implications of our results for biocontrol efforts against invasive Schinus populations.

A New Species of Rhus (Anacardiaceae) from the Sultanate of Oman, Arabia

A new species of Rhus was identified during preparation of the Flora of Oman. It is apparently endemic to the drier eastern part of the southern province of Dhofar, Oman.

Erratum to ‘Physiological dormancy and germination requirements of seeds of several North American Rhus species (Anacardiaceae) by Xiaojie Li, Jerry M. Baskin and Carol C. Baskin. Seed Science Research 9: 237–245, 1999’

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A new species of Rhus (Anacardiaceae), endemic to serpentine near Barberton, Mpumalanga (Eastern Transvaal), South Africa

Rhus pygmaea , a new species endemic to amphibolitic serpentine soils near Barberton, Mpumalanga (Eastern Transvaal) is described and illustrated. It has affinities with R. pondoensis Schonlbut differs primarily in its dwarf habit, narrower leaflets, reduced inflorescence and male flowers having a conical pistillode.